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Which Science Term Best Describes Air
Which Science Term Best Describes Air is the fourth major constituent of the atmosphere. Also, it is composed primarily of gases. These gases consist of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%) carbon dioxide (0.04%), argon (0.8%), krypton (0.06%), xenon (0.001%), radon (0.000001%), helium (0.0001%) and neon (0.000003%). Carbon Dioxide makes up 0.04% of air and is responsible for giving us life.
Oxygen provides the cells with fuel. Argon is inert and does not change the composition of air. Krypton is radioactive and is only present in trace amounts. Xenon is toxic if inhaled. Radon is a gas released from rocks and is consider both harmful and harmless. Helium is rare and is the only form in stars. Neon is a chemical element and is not naturally occurring.
Which One of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
1. Oxygen
Oxygen comprises over 21% of Earth’s atmosphere. It is necessary to sustain plant life, and we inhale oxygen every day. Plants use oxygen in conjunction with water and sunlight to produce food via photosynthesis, a process where carbon dioxide and water combine to release oxygen. Oxygen is also responsible for metabolizing fats and carbs, producing carbon dioxide, and releasing oxygen again. Other gases such as methane and nitrous oxide play a role in global warming and climate change, respectively.
2. Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 )
Carbon dioxide makes up about 0.04% of our atmosphere. It is produced by respiration in animals and humans, and by burning fossil fuels in power plants. In plants, CO2 is used in the production of glucose and starches. It is involved in the formation of cellulose and lignin, two major components of plant matter.
3. Methane (CH 4 )
Methane makes up approximately 1.8% of our atmospheric composition. Its primary function is as a component of natural gas, yet it is also released by decomposing material including landfills, livestock, and rotting vegetation. Methane is considered a greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming because of its high concentration in the atmosphere and slow rate of decay.
4. Nitrogen Oxide (NO x )
Nitrogen oxides make up only about 0.037% of the atmosphere. They are mainly generated by combustion, but they are also released by some industrial processes. The chemical formula for nitrogen oxides is NOx, and it includes both nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ). Both of these compounds contribute to smog.
5. Argon (Ar)
Argon makes up less than half a percent of our atmosphere. It occurs naturally in the earth’s crust and is present in many rocks. While its exact purpose is unknown, it may help regulate the temperature of the planet.
6. Water Vapor (H 2 O)
Water vapor makes up roughly 78.08% of the atmosphere. It is one of the most common atmospheric gases, but it does not occur alone. Rather, it bonds with other gasses and forms molecules, called hydrates. Hydrates are made up of water molecules bonded together in groups of three or four. Water vapor is often referred to as the ‘vapor pressure’ of a substance. We breathe out water vapor because it is constantly evaporating off of us.
7. Helium
Helium is the least abundant element in the universe. It comprises less than 0.0008% of the atmosphere. However, it is still used in science experiments because it is inert (does not react with anything). It is also used to inflate balloons because it is lighter than air.
Is Air an Element or Compound
Which Science Term Best Describes Air is a chemical compound with no elements. Air is composed of 79% oxygen and 21% nitrogen. Oxygen is the primary gas in the air; however, many compounds containing oxygen, including water, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide, are not considered gases. One exception is supercritical CO2 (sc-CO2), which is both a liquid and a gas.
When sc-CO2 is pressurized to a higher than its critical point (~100 atm) it becomes a gas. There are two types of air: ambient air and dry air. Ambient air is the air that is present around us and wet air is the air that is saturated with water vapor. Dry air is often referred to as atmospheric air, although that term technically refers to the air above the surface of Earth’s oceans.
Weather Terms
1. Humidity
Humidity is defined as the amount of water vapor in the air relative to its saturation level at a given temperature. Air becomes saturated when the water vapor content reaches 100% of how much water vapor would exist if the air were arid at a certain temperature. When the humidity in the air is less than 50%, then the air is considered wet; when it is greater than 50%, then the atmosphere is considered humid.
2. Precipitation
Precipitation occurs when liquid water falls out of clouds. Rain is a type of precipitation. In general, rain forms when warm moist air rises and cools, causing condensation.
3. Temperature
Temperature is the measure of hotness or coldness. We use temperature to describe the average energy of particles (heat) or the average speed of molecules (cold). Generally speaking, temperatures above zero degrees Celsius (32°F) are refer to as ‘hot’ and temperatures below zero degrees Celsius (32F) is referred to as ‘cold’.
4. Dew Point
A Dew point is the temperature at which dew begins to form on a surface. Dew points range from 0-32°C (32-90°F).
5. Wind Chill
The wind chill is the drop in temperature cause by wind. As the wind picks up speed, it causes colder air to rush over exposed skin faster than warmer air does. So, even though it may feel like it’s not cold outside, if you’re wearing a jacket or coat, you’ll experience a significant reduction in body temperature.
6. Fog
Fog is a cloud that contains droplets suspended in the air rather than ice crystals. Also, fog is often accompanied by drizzle or mist. Fog can occur at any time of year, but is most likely to appear in winter months due to temperature inversions.
7. Heat Index
The heat index is a measure of the combined effects of high temperature and humidity. A heat index value represents the actual temperature felt by the human body, as well as the moisture retained in clothing and the temperature of the surrounding air.
Reactants of Photosynthesis
The first step in photosynthesis is the creation of photons. These photons are created by sunlight and are absorbed by chlorophyll molecules in the leaf. The chlorophyll molecule then uses these photons to create electrons. Then, these electrons pass through the electron transport chain.
When they reach the end of the chain, they become water, and then the rest of the reaction occurs. In order to make sure that these reactions happen, light needs to enter the leaf. Light waves have wavelengths between 400nm-700nm. Each wavelength corresponds to a different range of colors. Red wavelengths have longer wavelengths than blue ones.
Violet wavelengths are even shorter than red ones. Green wavelengths fall somewhere in the middle. All of these wavelengths contribute to the green color of vegetation. As long as enough light enters the leaf, the plant will continue to produce food. If not, the plant will die.
Oxygen Definition
Oxygen is a chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. So then, oxygen is a nonmetal, meaning oxygen does not have any electrons in its outer electronic shell. In contrast to other elements, oxygen is highly reactive due to having only two valence electrons. Most compounds containing oxygen are polar molecules containing oxygen atoms bonded to electronegative atoms (usually halogens).
How is Oxygen Made
1. Ozone
Ozone is created naturally by lightning storms and UV rays. The ozone layer absorbs harmful radiation from the sun and releases oxygen. Oxygen is the gas we breathe. In our atmosphere, the ozone layer is about 8-30 miles deep (depending on latitude). You can view this layer on satellite images.
2. Water vapor
Water vapor is created when water molecules move around. When water evaporates from a liquid, it creates a cloud. Clouds can have many different shapes, including cirrus clouds, cumulus clouds, nimbus clouds, etc. These clouds change shape and location throughout the day. A rainbow is caused by sunlight scattering off droplets suspend in the air. Rainbows often occur when clouds are near the horizon.
3. Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide comes from burning things. So, if you burn wood, you create carbon dioxide. Plants use carbon dioxide in their system.
4. Light
Light is the force that makes plants grow. Without light, plants cannot make food. Plants need light to help them make food. Different types of light give plants different amounts of light. Plants need at least 12 hours of natural daylight per day to survive. To get the best results, you should try to mimic the amount of daylight that is given to plants where you live. If you do not have enough natural light, you can use artificial lights, which are inexpensive and safe to use.
5. CO2
CO2 is a gas that plants use to make food. Plants take CO2 out of the air and combine it with H20 to make sugar and starches.
Read more: Which Resources are Non-Renewable Resources
